Javier Colon was the winner of the inaugural season of NBC's The Voice and he turns in a fairly traditional set on this digital holiday release. You may have heard Javier's version of "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" on the Rockefeller Tree Lighting broadcast. And Javier shines on "River" and "O Holy Night". Still, I can't help but feel he might have been well served to have a legitimate soul number or two on "A Very Acoustic Christmas". As it is, I think this set will mostly appeal to those who are already fans with nothing breaking through the avalanche of December releases.

At 12 years old when he joined the group, Joey McIntyre was the youngest member of New Kids On The Block. Think about that for a second. If it were me, I think that would suck. Not the "most talented", not the "best looking", not even the "bad boy". For the rest of his life, Joey Mac will always be tagged as "the youngest member of NKOTB". For all that, Joey seems remarkably well adjusted. Since NKOTB initially broke up, he's busied himself acting and writing and recording, and putting out records--mostly on his own. This self-issued Christmas album, "Come Home For Christmas", is an excellent portrait of Joey McIntyre all grown up. The songs seem marvelously arranged and meticulously recorded. His voice is strong and clear and confident. We even get a taste of Justin Timberlake like humor on "Baby It's Cold Outside", a duet with Mario Cantone that, done poorly, could've been kind of creepy; here, it just comes off as wonderfully whimsical. Joey is joined on the record by his son, Griffin, his sister Carol Gallagher, and his friend and former NKTOB partner Jordan Knight. There's nothing about this album that rises to the level of "must have" for the obsessive Christmas collector. But, as a pure Christmas album, this is a top notch effort--much better than many albums from bigger names. So far, the hard copy CD is only being offered through Joey Mac's web site (where the postage seems rather high). And it looks as though the download is initially being offered through iTunes. But you can find minute long clips of all the songs on Joey's SoundCloud page so you can decide for yourself if this is something you'll want in your collection. For whatever it's worth, I decided to buy it. What can I say? Joey's rendition of "O Holy Night" sold me.

Disc 1The Original Album1. O Come, All Ye Faithful2. The First Noel3. On A Snowy Christmas Night4. Winter Wonderland5. The Wonderful World Of Christmas6. It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You)7. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day8. If I Get Home On Christmas Day9. Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees10. Merry Christmas Baby11. Silver BellsBonus Song12. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day : remake masterFirst Takes13. It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You) : takes 1-314. If I Get Home On Christmas Day : take 115. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day : takes 1-316. Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees : takes 1, 217. Silver Bells : takes 1, 218. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day : remake takes 1, 2SHOPELVIS.COM HOMEDisc 2PURCHASE FROM SHOPELVIS.COM1. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day : take 42. If I Get Home On Christmas Day : takes 2, 33. Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees : take 34. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day : remake take 35. It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You) : takes 4, 56. O Come, All Ye Faithful : take 27. If I Get Home On Christmas Day : take 58. The Lord's Prayer9. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day : takes 5, 610. Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees : take 411. It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You) : take 612. Merry Christmas Baby : take 1 (unedited version)13. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day : remake takes 4-914. If I Get Home On Christmas Day : take 715. Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees : take 516. Winter Wonderland : takes 7, 8

Elvis Presley's original "Christmas Album" was originally released in 1957. It rose all the way to #1 on Billboard's album charts. His second, "The Wonderful World Of Christmas", was first issued in 1971 in the midst of Elvis' comeback years. "The Wonderful World Of Christmas" reached #13 on the Country album charts. As for the regular album charts, Billboard was, from 1963 to 1973, employing a different ranking method which essentially segregated Christmas albums. Rest assured, Elvis' second Christmas record was ultimately #1 on the Christmas album charts.

In the decades since the King's passing, there have been multitudes of reissues, repackagings, remasters, remixes and reimaginings of Elvis' Christmas material. Unreleased songs have been issued, alternate takes have been issued, and there has even been a set of "Elvis Presley Christmas Duets" from beyond the grave (I personally avoided that one like the plague. It was an icky concept, imo.). Clearly, there will never be an end to it.

This expanded 2 disc issue of "The Wonderful World Of Christmas" is at least a tasteful collection (unlike the "Duets"), giving fans and Elviophiles the original album as released followed by most of the alternate takes. This will have appeal to hardcore fans and completists and they--not I--would know if there's anything new here. For me, about the only interesting inclusion would be the unedited version of "Merry Christmas Baby"--and that has been previously released. The write-up also mentions the version of "Blue Christmas" from the 1968 Comeback Special, but that isn't on the track list.

"Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas" is being sold through ShopElvis.com, the official online store for Elvis Presley and Graceland. Ship date is December 16 and I'm told standard shipping can take about a week, so, if this is something that interests you, you might want to consider expedited shipping. Our thanks to Imwan poster "Brainiac McGee" for this information.

Disc 1:A CHRISTMAS CAROL- How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingGIVE AWAY LOVE- MemphisWHITE CHRISTMAS- Chicago featuring Kara DioGuardiLITTLE JESUS SWEETLY SLEEP- Mary PoppinsHARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING- Mamma Mia!WHEN THE RIVER MEETS THE SEA- WickedCHRISTMAS IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR- Catch Me if You CanTHE 13 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS- The Addams FamilyI WONDER AS I WANDER- The Phantom of the OperaANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH- Sister ActO COME, O COME EMMANUEL- Rock of AgesSILENT NIGHT- The Lion King

The thirteenth edition of this annual holiday CD which benefits BC/EFA boasts the best voices from the worlds of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tours. Original songs as well as holiday classics make up this two-disc compilation which features the companies of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Anything Goes and Sister Act, among others. Celebrity guests include Daniel Radcliffe, Martha Wash, Kara DioGuardi, Roger Rees, Reeve Carney, Montego Glover, Chad Kimball, Hugh Panaro and Daniel Rodriguez, among others.

1. Merry Christmas Darling2. Winter Weather3. Peace Like A River4. Sleigh Ride5. Breath Of Heaven6. I'll Be Home For Christmas7. Ballad Of A Snowman8. River9. The Christmas Song10. The Man With The Bag11. This Christmas (feat. Blair Clark)

Indiana native Heather Ramsey doesn't hide that she's the "front girl" for the local Indianapolis cover bands; its those gigs, after all, that allow Heather to pursue his true passion...Jazz. Heather seasons her Jazz vocals with her other influences as well...classical, R&B, and, for "Peace Like A River", The Carpenters. "I'll admit it," says Heather, "I'm a huge Karen Carpenter fan, and something about her voice on their holiday album puts me at peace any time of year." Heather Ramsey explores a number of different Jazz styles on this set, from fairly straight ahead pop vocal renditions of "Merry Christmas Darling" and "The Christmas Song" to a bit of cool bop on "Ballad of A Snowman" to the full on Django approach for "The Man With The Bag". Heather gets a little help on her Christmas set from Monika Herzig (the composer of "Ballad of a Snowman"), whose own "Peace On Earth" was very much enjoyed here at Stubbys (though we weren't on the Nets back then). All in all, an impressive outing. Amazon won't have the mp3 until November 27, apparently, but you can get either your hard copy CD or digital on at CD Baby right now.

Canadian crooner Michael Buble previously racked up sales and airplay with the EP "Let It Snow". But that always bothered him a bit, because the only thing Buble about it was his voice. Buble was just starting out in 2003 when label execs and producers tossed him in a studio and told him to lay down vocals on a handful of Christmas standards that had already been arranged and recorded for him. It did work, as the EP hit #32 on Billboard's album charts that year and has become a perennial with great staying power in the years since.

But Michael, a great fan of Christmas and the music that has been created about the season, dreamed of the day when he could do a full Christmas record...for realz--an album for which he could pick the tunes, set the arrangements, choose a few special guest stars to share it with--a true Michael Buble Christmas record.

That time has come and Michael Buble has created "Christmas"--an album he hopes will be as beloved and lasting as the Bing Crosby Christmas albums he grew up on.

There's been a slow motion promotional roll out of details on the set to help build excitement for the release on October 24. But Michael needn't have bothered. People were quite excited about the album already. Afterall, "Let It Snow" was a mere 5 tracks long. Add in a duet with Country star Shania Twain, who has been absent from the holiday genre far too long, and, brother, people are ready for this.

"Christmas" features 15 tracks in all, most of them familiar standards. Buble includes a few more recent "standards" as well, Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" from the 60s, a duet with emerging Latin star Thalia on the 70s classic from Jose Feliciano, "Feliz Navidad", and, in a tip to the most popular holiday song of most recent vintage, he covers Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You".

In addition to Thalia and Shania Twain (who joins Michael for a Drifters inspired arrangement of "White Christmas"), the Puppini Sisters are along for a joyous "Jingle Bells". And those who purchase the limited edition version, exclusively available at MichaelBuble.com, will also get to hear a cappella's Naturally 7 lending a hand on "Silver Bells".

It sounds like Michael Buble had a lot of fun creating "Christmas" and I've always said that's an element that can make all the difference in the world. So the stars, it would seem, are perfectly aligned. "Christmas" promises to be a true delight. Be there or be square.

Fresh off the release of "Duets II", Sony/Columbia is taking advantage of Tony Bennett's increased visibility by releasing this holiday collection. And, as individual artist Christmas compilations go, this is a pretty nice one; not Collectors Choice-Perry Como nice, but nice nonetheless.

Tony Bennett has recorded 2 full-length Christmas albums in his long and storied career--"Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album" from 1968 and "A Swingin' Christmas" from 2008. Now most any artist would give his eye teeth for just one Christmas album of that caliber, but Tony has been around long enough to have other holiday resources from which to draw. Don't forget the Hallmark "Christmas With Tony Bennett and the London Symphony Orchestra" album from 2002 (from whence I suspect most of the more religious carols were drawn). Then there was the album Tony recorded with Placido Domingo, Charlotte Church and Vanessa Williams (it's easy to pick out the representative track here taken from that set). Tony also recorded a few tracks for the Goodyear "Great Songs Of Christmas" series and I believe at least one of those wasn't included on any of Tony's other Christmas collections (namely "What Child Is This"). And what of "Christmas In Herald Square"? Well, you might be one of the millions who has lived unaware of a little children's album Tony recorded in 1998 (complete with Muppets on a couple of tracks), "The Playground". About the only thing I don't see represented here is Tony's "duet" with The Manhattan Transfer.

The Complete Tony Bennett Christmas recordings will come one day. Until then, this is a pretty nice collection of Tony Bennett gems for your holiday listening pleasure.

If you've been wishing for a White Christmas...just like the ones you used to know...your prayers have been heard and answered. And in plenty of time for whatever festivities you might be planning.

Deana Martin is the daughter of the master himself, Dean Martin, and she has long carried on his legacy--and built one of her own--singing the songs the Rat Pack made famous in the sound and style we've all loved ever since.

For this Christmas set, that means nothing but the Christmas songs you know and love--some with hot swingin' and sexy arrangements and some with that easy, relaxed, and sweet sentimentality (for which I believe her father held the original patent). This is a Christmas album the way they used to make them, with classy and classic big band arrangements and vocals that drip like honey from your speakers, tasting every bit as sweet.

If you like your Christmases old school, you'll surely dig "Silver Bells" and "Jingle Bell Rock" featuring the most swinging performances of those tunes ever put to disc. It's nearly impossible not to hear echoes of her father as Deana delivers playful takes on "Winter Wonderland" and "Let It Snow". "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "The Christmas Song" are appropriately cuddle worthy. And no doubt the album's highlight is the duet with Andy Williams on "White Christmas"--instantly unforgettable.

Check the samples at Amazonor atDeana's web siteand I'm sure you'll agree, "White Christmas" by Deana Martin is the first must-buy holiday album of the season.

Guitarist Chris Standring teams up with songstress Kathrin Shorr to present an old-school-sounding, romantic-flavored album of original vocal compositions, complete with lush string arrangements and sentimental holiday feelings.

This right here is an excellent example of why I'm obsessed with Christmas music. The major artists will always get their play. Michael Buble's Christmas album will not pass by unnoticed. Carole King and Chicago efforts will be warmly received. Ricky Skaggs plans on being on every TV show in America. And who isn't curious to hear what Scott Weiland will do with a full Christmas album? Most of the rest will likely find their audience as well.But what about the song or two or three each year that fall through the cracks and never reach the audience they deserve?

Last year's "Share The Gifts" was a collection that got so little pub or play that you couldn't even find it if you were specifically looking for it. Seriously. The collection was a mixed bag--more good than bad, imo--but there was one newly recorded track that absolutely shined.

"The one song previously unreleased, "Send Me Some Snow" by Chris Standring & Kathrin Shorr, was easily the most delightful--a sprightly mid-tempo affair that sounds like it could be the soundtrack for a Target Stores Christmas campaign."

OK. Not my best work. But still. "Send Me Some Snow" was one of my very favorite new tracks last year. I mean, listen to the thing. It's a cool little song. And it could've been destined to disappear--like a million other new Christmas songs--with only a vague hope of being resurrected in a few decades by a musicologist seeking out the forgotten gems of the era or an artist looking for a fresh cover for their own holiday set. It could have. You just never know. So I did my little bit to call attention to it, for whatever that's worth.

Fortunately, for the world of Christmas music and those who obsessively try to shine a light on the hidden jewels therein, Chris Standring and Kathrin Shorr had no intention of letting their song fade away. They are back, this year, with an entire Christmas album--an album of nothing but new and original holiday music, mind you--not a cover song to be found. And I, for one, could not be happier.

I'm very much looking forward to Christmas albums from Carole King, She & Him, Joey + Rory. I can't wait to hear from John Zorn, Colbie Caillat, Trine Rein and Mindy Gledhill. I'm hopeful we'll land holiday albums from Percy Sledge, Jon Lindsay, and Gaga. But "Send Me Some Snow" from Chris Standring and Kathrin Shorr, at this precise moment in time, stands at the top of my "I seriously can not contain my excitement" list. "Send Me Some Snow" is set to be released November 1 and you can pre-order through Amazon.

Enjoying great success in music, film, television, and the stage, Dean Martin was less an entertainer than an icon, the eternal essence of cool. A member of the legendary Rat Pack, he lived and died the high life of booze, broads and bright lights, always projecting a sense of utter detachment and serenity; along with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and the other chosen few who breathed the same rarefied air, Martin — highball and cigarette always firmly in hand — embodied the glorious excess of a world long gone. “A Winter Romance” is perhaps best described as a “seasonal” album rather than a Christmas or holiday release, however it does capture the essence of the season with classics such as “White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland”. With “Sleep Warm” Martin finally found a way to construct an album in the style of pal and rival Frank Sinatra’s highly successful concept LPs: Bring Sinatra in as the conductor and centre the album on the concept of sleep. Both albums are presented here in their entirity. Budget priced 2-fer Import boasting a unique pairing of Dino's consummate holiday set with a complete non-sequitor. And, because it's Dean, it probably sounds tremendous.

PREviews

I don't know about you, but I want to see that cover art and I want to see that track list before I make my Christmas music purchasing decisions. The earlier the better. That's what we try to do for you here. We'll also try to give you a little background on the artist(s), in case they're new to you.